Meet an AMI member part two

Meet an AMI member has two members telling their story this time. Paul Roberts and Stuart McInnes are both active Mountaineering Instructors who absolutely love climbing.

Here's what they have to say...

Paul Roberts

Font, Photo by Mikey Cleverdon

Working as an MIA can be very diverse. We all know the standard employment opportunities such as using the qualification to progress within the industry, run NGB course and skill based courses. My role as an MIA differs somewhat, I do the usual one man band work as many of us do as well as working for the Plymouth School Sports Partnership as Head of Outdoors. The PSSP consists of around 80 Primary, Secondary and Special schools from around the area. We hold our own AALA licence which allows us to provide Partnership schools outdoor and adventurous activities at cost, in a range of different programmes from activities weeks, to enriching classroom topics with a practical understanding. In addition since the demise of outdoor education within Plymouth City Council there has been a need for an advisory and development role for teachers and school staff which I can offer to subscribing schools to help fill that void. Working for the PSSP keeps me motivated and focused as many days are different and the opportunity for running events and competitions are
endless.

Living in the South West, many of the PSSP Schools take part in Ten Tors, Jubilee Challenge, Junior Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh awards which engages many children and young people and encourages them to embrace the great outdoors and who knows it could start them on the path to becoming AMI members of the future as it did for me.

As much as I enjoy working for the PSSP I enjoy climbing more. Working term time only allows me to train and climb lots. For me, climbing is an obsession and a way of life as it is for most AMI members. I enjoy mixing up my rock climbing through the seasons as each discipline can improve the others. Currently I have been focusing on bouldering and I have just recently climbed my winter goal, Tsunami at Bonehill, Dartmoor.

Tsunami V10 Bonehill, Dartmoor Photo by Tom Bunn

It has been a difficult start to the year in regards to outside climbing due to the amount of stormy wet weather that has bombarded the UK. So to make the most of dry spells a few local climbers will head outside for night lamp bouldering sessions. It does bring another dimension to climbing but you can be blessed with some beautiful night skies.

So whatever your climbing aspirations are in 2016 good luck and happy adventures!

Stuart McInnes

New routing in Pembrokeshire.

Living and working in Pembrokeshire, there might not be any Mountains, but the Sea-Cliffs make up for it! You can be walking along the coastal path on a nice sunny tranquil day, but when you abseil into a big steep remote cliff all of a sudden you're in adventure land! My first forays into these environments when I was learning were, looking back, full of miss-adventure, but being able to show people this world, in a more controlled, safer environment is such a buzz.

The Sea cliffs give you a climbing experience like no other, and helping people discover this world, and see the fear on their faces turn to amazement, awe and smiles makes every day rewarding. There are so many routes to do here with such diverse styles of climbing, from easy slabs to big steep multi-pitch, that make the area ideal for teaching people to lead climb – and you can usually have the crags to yourselves if you know where to look! Oh and the weather is often pretty decent!

I'm super lucky that most work days are climbing, but when I have time off I can nip out for a quick boulder on some of the amazing inland areas in the county (yes there is really decent bouldering in Pembrokeshire!), or when the waters warmer go exploring for new DWS routes, or abseil into a crag to check out if there's gear on that new line I've spotted... Not that you need to look for new routes, as I'll never get through all five of the Climbers Club guidebooks anyway!